A much more efficient process is to use a word processor to create a template design (e.g., a two-column A5 page, with defined margins, gutter width, headline fonts, body text fonts, etc) and then allowing the software to maintain a consistent look throughout the newsletter or magazine. Such publications can then be printed in the required numbers by sending the final document directly to an office printer or by printing a single top copy and then bulk-photocopying from that.
The most creative and technically sophisticated approach uses desktop publishing (dtp) software. This is used to position articles onto a virtual page and facilitate the addition of artwork, photographs and other graphic elements in digital form, as part of the overall page design process. Modern word processors like Microsoft Word are also capable of achieving similar results as desktop publishing applications, of course, but they offer much less design flexibility and creative scope. Hence, the most “professional looking” church publications will have been created using a dtp programme such as Serif PagePlus, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe InDesign, Quark Express, and others. Such dtp applications can also print directly to an office printer, or produce output as a digital page (e.g., as an Adobe PDF file). More sophisticated office printers and photocopiers will output these files, but the main advantage of PDF is that you can send them electronically (i.e., by email or other file transfer technologies) to a high street copy shop safe in the knowledge that the final output will look exactly as the pages looked on the originator’s computer screen.
Those editors who might wish to introduce pictures or increase the graphic content of their publications more generally will also need to get to grips with image- and photo-editing software, such as Serif PhotoPlus, Corel Photo-Paint, Xara Xtreme, or Adobe Photoshop elements. Such applications are needed to tweak, crop, and adjust images to suit the page design or to reproduce better in the final publication.
Old Nick
Hades
"Another opportunity to add a relevant quote or other juicy little item of interest to visitors”
BUILDING A TEAM
YOUR PURPOSE?
FUNDING
PRINTING
DISTRIBUTION
A WEBSITE TOO?
GENERATING COPY
Printing Options:
“We have the Technology”
It would be an extremely rare and unusual church publication that isn’t now produced with the aid of modern technology in the form of personal computers, printers, email, etc.
At the most basic, some newsletters are created by printing off individual articles, tables of events, clipart, etc., physically pasting these onto blank pages to produce a top copy, and then photocopying as required.
Page Design on a Tight Budget
As well as the rather sophisticated and expensive software applications available from the major software publishers, there are many sources of cheap or even free software products that can do a perfectly adequate job. Our most favoured budget applications are those from Serif, and it is very easy to find previous editions of their highly capable software products free-of-charge, either on the internet or on the cover discs of PC magazines. Other sources of suitable software for those on a modest budget can be found here:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/free-office-software
Please note that the Association for Church Editors runs regular workshops at various locations around the UK to demonstrate the use of some of the most popular DTP and image-editing software applications. For further details, click here.
Outputting Your Final Publication
Thankfully, the days of hand-cranked Gestetner™-type duplicators are long gone! Small scale publications with modest circulations can easily be created on a small office printer, based either on inkjet or laser technology. Larger volumes are usually more economically reproduced on a larger scale photocopier, preferably with automatic collation and stapling. The editors of some church newsletters and magazines send their final documents in electronic form to high street print shops, either as word processor files or as PDFs. We also know of a small number of church organisations which have made substantial investments in commercial scale photocopier-printers themselves, and offer printing services to other local organisations. Final decisions concerning your preferred printing methods will ultimately depend upon the required print volumes and a careful evaluation of costs per page or costs per publication.
The option to include colour printing (e.g., on the front and rear cover pages, or throughout the magazine) will increase the costs of publication considerably, but for those with very generous budgets there is no doubting the potential for a more professional and appealing document when it includes well-judged elements of colour.
On the basis of environmental concerns, there is a strong argument for avoiding paper printing altogether, and looking for ways of communicating by electronic means (such as by emailed newsletters, downloadable PDF magazines and websites). However, the likelihood that paperless communications will become the preferred option for readers in the near future seems somewhat remote. Our view is that electronic media will continue to complement paper-based newsletters and magazines for some years to come.
BUILDING A TEAM
YOUR PURPOSE?
FUNDING
PRINTING
DISTRIBUTION
A WEBSITE TOO?
GENERATING COPY